Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-10-13
The Democratic War on the Tariff.

Some days ago we gave publicity to
the plan of the administration for re-
ducing the revenue. the articles which
it proposed ia put upon the free list,and
estimated the amount of duty annually
collected upon them heretofore at about
S70.00O,O00. We said that this proposed
action was but the beginning of the
Democratic war upon the tariff, and
that the real aim of the friends
of the administration was to prac-
tically destroy the tariff altogether.
Since then the Democratic State Con-
vention has met in New York, its lead.
ers were fully informed as to the plans
ot the government, and it resolved that
the national revenue be reduced 500,
coo 900 annually, these revenues to be
taken off from imported raw and other
materials, and not from internal taxes.
Substantially this declaration amounts
to the endorsement of free trade poli-
cy. II the revenue is to be reduced one
hundred millions annually, by reduc-
tions in tariff only, it must be done by
destroying entirely the protective char
acter of the tariff, and so far as home
industry is concerned, giving it no as
sistance whatever. Are the workers
in wool, iron, cotton, woods and other
industries prepared for SO radical a
measure as this? Are they prepared to
strike down protective tariff and
throw wide open the doors to The prod
ucts OF foreign labor? We seem to have
reached the exact point in our history
predicted by Mr.. Blaine in his great
speech at Pittsburgh one year ago:
The main question, therefore, is wheth-
or you will exclude from the tariff the
protective idea or whether you will re-
duce the rates upon articles from the
duties on which you gain no protection,
and thus so wisely discriminate that,
with new tariff adapted to $100.000.-
less revenue, you will s9ill gain all the
protection needed. say to you gentle+
men, that at only two periods in eur
history, namely, the beginning of our
federal government and the outbreak of
the civlt war, has the financial ability
of American statesman been confronted
by problem of the magnitude of the
one to which l have invited your atten~
tion. Never, therefore. was there
time, when the men who believe in pro-
lection to American industry were more
imperatively called upon to gird about
their loins for great battle on that
question. 1t is impending within two
years, and will be settled favorably or
adversely in that time. | cannot now
go into details on the tariff as to the
manner in which it should be regulated
but can say this, that unless it is so
adjusted as to continue the doctrine of
protection, you, gentlemen, will see hard
times in this country.
1t is evident that the Democrats have
determined to force free trade policy
upon the country. They are trying to
make good the assertion of the London
Times that the people of the United
States are travelling towards free trade
and away from protection, from the
dark days of their policy to the enlight>
ened policy of England" 1t may be
that part of this policy
as recommended by Lord Brougbam was
for English manufacturers to glut the
American market with foreign goods,no
matter at what loss, and so destroy the
manufacturers of the United States
Our readers must reflect for themselves.
The issue is rapidly being made. 1t
will be substantially free trade on the
one side or protection Oh the other.
Should protection to home industry re
cei We its death blow in tie struggle, it
is mild statement to say there will be
hard times in this country There will
be such destruction of values and hard>
ships for workiDgmen that they may
we'll appall the stoutest heart to con-
-Clev. Leader.
H. DAduao, Dr.nac